(2) Pray for the Harvest Work Matthew 9:37-38, Luke 10:2

As Lord of the harvest, Jesus wanted his disciple’s minds, hearts, and efforts focused on his work. Those who are most earnestly praying and sympathetic are those who are most earnestly laboring in the harvest work. Paul said, "Every one who ser ves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world’s business — so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him" (2 Timothy 2:4, Weymouth).

Notice Jesus’ heart attitude in the Jewish Harvest work. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36 NKJV. Jesus’ attitude was neither harsh nor condemning of those who were lost. Some Christians preach their Gospel with an attitude of pride, condemning unbelievers. Like our Master, as we pray for the Gospel Harvest work, let us be moved with compassion for the blind, suffering masses. Let us support our prayers by participating in the work to the best of our opportunity and ability, endeavoring to let our light shine just as Jesus did.

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit" (James 5:14-18 NKJV).

"The prayer of faith will save the sick." Some have made the mistake of thinking that James is talking about physical healing. The word "sick" in verse 14 (from Strong’s 770) can refer to either physical or spiritual sickness depending upon the context. The same word is found in 1 Corinthians 8:12 — "weak conscience" — and in Romans 14:1 — "weak in the faith." Similarly, verse 15 says, "And the prayer of faith will save the sick." Here, the word sick comes from Strong’s 2577 which means "weary" or "tired," as it is used in Hebrews 12:3, "lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

Contextually, James is speaking about spiritual sickness, "And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another." If physical sickness were meant, James would not talk about the sick one being

forgiven sins. Ordinarily, there would be no need for an individual to confess his trespasses to others, unless it is to the person against whom he had trespassed (Matthew 18:15, Luke 17:3). Such sins need only be confessed to the Lord (1 John 1:9). However, if the sin is public knowledge and of such a severe nature as to break fellowship with the Lord, then the repentance needs to be public in order to restore fellowship with the brethren (Matthew 18:15-17, James 5:19-20).

In such a severe case, the sin-sick one, upon realizing his need, may call upon the ecclesia elders and confess his fault. The elders’ prayers should not be for the removal of the trial, or for discipline, but rather that the intended lesson is learned from the experience (Hebrews 12:5-13). The elders’ prayers should be for the forgiveness of the sins (vs. 15) and development of the "fruits of the spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23), by "anointing him with oil" (vs. 14). "Oil" represents the influence of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 1 John 2:27). Paul teaches, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11 NKJV).

It is essential that elders approach this spiritual healing effort with love and humility, lest they be overcome with feelings of pride, judgment, and superiority, perhaps then doing more harm than good (Galatians 6:1-3). However, praying for the brethren is not just the responsibility of the elders. As we learn of the trials and difficulties of our brethren, we all should pray that God will strengthen, encourage and overrule the experience for their welfare. Our prayers and words of encouragement toward righteousness will have the effect of elevating, stimulating, and reviving the spiritually weary, fainting one. The Lord has put a special responsibility upon each New Creature for developing a caring love for all of the other members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:25-26, Ephesians 4:15-16, 1 John 3:14- 16). Sometimes, the only way we can demonstrate that caring love is through prayer.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13 NKJV).

In verse 11 (NKJV), Jesus asks, "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?" Just as any loving parent is anxious to give their child the fleshly nourishment needed, so our Heavenly Father is anxious to provide us with the spiritual nourishment necessary to sustain our spiritual life. That spiritual nourishment comes from the understanding of God’s Word as revealed through the indwelling of God’s holy Spirit.

It is prudent for the New Creature to regularly ask for more of the oil (holy Spirit), lest, like the foolish virgins, we find that we are running out (Matthew 25:3,8). The advice of the wise virgins (Matthew 25:8,9) to the foolish ones was to go to the market place (of experiences) to purchase more oil (guidance of the holy Spirit). The wise had been doing this all along (Romans 8:9, Galatians 5:16,25, Ephesians 3:16-19, 5:18).

However, if we merely pray for the Spirit, but do not continue to earnestly study the Bible, serving the Lord and His people, we will remain "babes in Christ." The holy Spirit coupled with our knowledge of God’s plan and the character of Christ helps us grow more and more in the likeness of our Savior. The holy Spirit helps us both understand and then apply the teachings of the Truth in one’s life so that we may grow spiritually. Hence, we are admonished not to quench (1 Thessalonians 5:19) or grieve (Ephesians 4:30) the Spirit, which is so crucial to our growing up into Christ. Therefore, we must avoid at all costs extinguishing God’s holy Spirit in our lives through the spirit of worldliness, selfishness, thoughtlessness, indulging in the pleasures of the flesh, weariness in well-doing, or even permitting it to die out for want of replenishing.

Praying for the holy Spirit, does not mean relaxing and enjoying spiritual growth with no effort on our part. Instead, we must diligently work in conjunction with our prayers for more of God’s holy Spirit by (1) emptying ourselves of our spirit that we might receive God’s spirit in greater measure and then (2) submitting ourselves to the greatest extent possible to the spirit’s leading and control over our lives.

Sometimes the Lord helps us to grow spiritually by directing challenging experiences our way. "We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right. Strengthen your tired arms and weak knees. Keep walking along straight paths so that your injured leg won’t get worse. Instead, let it heal" (Hebrews 12:11-13 GWT).

Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of those who publicly drew attention to their good deeds and prayers (Matthew 6:5). They were looking for the praise of men and not for communion with God. At our meetings, we should not give long, poetic prayers to impress others. Jesus’ usual method of prayer was to go to the Father privately (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:6 NASB).

Prayer is the opportunity where we can unburden our hearts to the Lord and pour out to Him our cares and concerns, our hopes and our fears. Effectively, this can only be done in secret. There, alone with our Father, we can share our innermost thoughts and receive the necessary strength and refreshment needed by our New Creature. That is why our Lord so often prayed alone, as he did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mentally, we can "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) throughout the day seeking God’s guidance in our behavior. Nehemiah, in his mind, secretly prayed to God for help while he was standing before the king (Nehemiah 2:4).

Not all prayers should be in secret. Jesus prayed publicly to the Father when he raised Lazarus from the dead. His purpose was to let the people know that God had sent Him (John 11:41-42). Daniel also publicly prayed, visibly (Daniel 6:10), in spite of the new law that would condemn him to death. His motive evidently was to set an example of courage and faithfulness to God for the Jewish people. While prayer in public is appropriate, praying in secret is one of the best ways to strengthen our relationship with God and bring our hearts into greater harmony with Him.

It is natural to want God to protect us from illness, financial distress, violence, etc. Jesus promised that the very hairs on our head are numbered (Luke 12:7). David spoke of the protection God’s children can rely on. "You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance" (Psalm 32:7 NKJV). Jesus had heavenly armies at his disposal which he could have requested through prayer to save him (Matthew 26:53 NKJV). But he did not.

The New Creature’s greatest danger is from spiritual threats. Satan is our great adversary so we must be on the alert to resist him, realizing our own insufficiency and need of divine aid. The adversary is more powerful and wiser than the natural man. Therefore, we need help if we are going to stand up against his assaults.

This is why Paul says, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:11,12 NKJV). The Christian armor is the spiritual defense God has provided us to battle these invisible forces (Ephesians 6:13- 18). This armor includes the shield of faith, helmet of the hope of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the spirit (truth), sandals of the Gospel of peace, and our loins girded with a consecration to the service of the Truth (see Ephesians 6:13-17). Part of this armor is the privilege of entering into God’s presence and requesting His guidance, His help and His overruling in our experience through prayer. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18).

We will eliminate much trouble when we "watch and pray." Yet, even so, the godly will suffer for righteousness (2 Timothy 3:12). The three Hebrews were not spared being thrown into the fiery furnace; yet, God delivered them out of it (Daniel 3:27). The Apostle Paul was not spared trouble. He was whipped, beaten, stoned, robbed, shipwrecked, imprisoned, hungry, cold, naked and even in danger from false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Paul was not spared these troubles, but he was delivered out of them.